Safety control device for liquids



Jan, 13', 1931. A. w. PERRIN L 1,788,827

`SAFETY CONTROL DEVICE FOR LIQUIDS Filed Aug.' 19, 1926 Aff.

l By Il.

Tann/Erf Patented. Jan. 13, 1931 l vUNITED ARTHUR w. EEEEIN, or xEYPoE'r, NEW JERSEY, EssmNoE, BY DIRECT AND'MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO REMINGTON OIL ENGINE, INC.,

CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY OF KEYPORT, NEW JERSEY, A

SAFETY CONTROLDEVICE FOR LIQUIDS .i y

Application filed August 19, 1926. Serial No. 130,196.

device that is adaptedto automatically regulate the flow of a liquid and to maintain its level at any predetermined height.

A further object of the invention is to provide a control device of the kind specified in which the regulation of theliquid is not entirely dependent upon a single control or valve unit, and in which a high factor of safety is provided by the addition of an auxiliary shutoff valve unit adapted to function only when the primary or main control fails to operate from any cause.

A further and one of the principal objects of the inventionV is .to provide a means espe cially suitable for the control of liquid fuels, in'which the construction of the valves and another mechanism is such as to eliminate the necessity of stuffing boxes or packing which frequently become leaky and which therefore considered unsafe.

The present embodiment features a new and novel device in which the liquid ordinarilypasses directly into a main chamber, said liquid being maintained therein at a predetermined height by an adjustable settable means. Should said means fail to oper.- ate, however, for any reason, the improved construction of the present invention will permit the liquid to overflow into an auxiliary chamber containing a safety valve mechanism operable by the rising liquid so as to positively interrupt the flow to the main chamber until Such a time as repairs have been made and the safety valve reset.

Further objects and advantages will be apparent from an inspection of the accompanying drawing which is a vertical section illusf trating the invention in conjunction with an oil burner. The drawing discloses the preferred form of the invention which is shown as a longitudinal section.

With reference to the drawing, 10 designates a form of burner or liquidfuel consumer in which thesurface area of the liquid fuel 11 may be increased or diminished in accordance with the heightof the fuel maintained in the bowl 12. A supply pipe 13 connects the bowl 12 `with the control device forming the present invention and which comprises a casing 14 preferablyi formed of a one-piece casting having an intervening wall 16 forming separate containers or cham bers A and B which are connected by an opening 17 in the wall 16 at a height slightly below the highest level the liquid should reach in the bowl 12.

The chamber A is provided with a flexible member 18 preferably comprising a metallic bellows diaphragm of a type well known in the art, the bottom ofwhich is held in a fixed position by a screw plug 19 provided with a suitable-opening 20 connecting with the interior of the diaphragm.

Secured to the top or movable portionof the diaphragm is prising a float 22, a needlevalve 23 operable by said fioat, and a needle valve seat portion 24 secured to the top of the diaphragm and provided with a plurality of openings 25 forming an exit for the fluid 11 subject to the action of said needle valve. A screw 26 with its' associated hand wheel 27 vcontrols the raising or lowering of the float actuating means to any desired setting and the needle valve and its seat and the float will simulta# neously move up or down .therewith due to the flexibility of the diaphragm 18.

In the chamber B there is somewhat vsmaller 4flexible member or diaphragm 29 also having its lower portion held in fixed relation with the casing 14C, said diaphragm having an opening through its bottom connecting with a lower chamber C through which passes the stem 3() of a taper seated safety valve .31, and a suitable conduit 32 connects said opening with the opening 20.

A spring 33 tending to close the valve 31 is mounted on the stem 30 and a latch 34 is provided to normally keep the valve in an open position, said latch being releasable by a float 35. A drain plug 36 permits of the liquid being drawn from the chamber B, and a mana similar but a float mechanism l21 comuallry7 operable lever 37 forms the means for settmg or resetting the device to a normally open position of the valve 31. It might be said in passing, that the top of the diaphragm 29 should be made air tight and this can be readily accomplished in any convenient manner, as the lvalve stem 30 which passes therethrough moves up or down only with the top of the diaphragm and has no movement relatively thereto.

The mechanism operates in the following manner. From a main supply tank (not shown) the liquid is conducted by means of a supply line 38 to the lower chamber C, passing through a screen 39, thence being conducted by means of the normally open valve 31, conduit 32, and'opening 2O to the interior of the diaphragm 18 from whence it issues by means of the openingsl 25, into the chamber A from which it is conveyed to the bowl 12 by the pipe 13. Should the float 22 and its associated needle valve fail for any reason to stop the influx of the fuel when the high level is reached, the liquid will overflow into the chamber B by means of the opening 17 and thus prevent an overflow in the burner bowl 12. Should this overiow continue until suliicient liquid has found its way into this chamber to operate the float it will release the latch 34 and permit the spring to'close the Vvalve 31 and shut off the liquid until such a time when the device'is` manually reset by the lever 37 following -r`such repairs as may have been found necessary.

Special attention is directed to the fact that with the construction'as 4herein shown and described, the operation of the valve 31 is not solely dependent upon the spring33,

and it will be understood that the expansive characteristics of a compressed diaphragm is such that it will in itself cause the valve to close. `Also that the pressure of the liquid from within the diaphragm will be sufficient to distend the same and close the valve in the event of the other means failing.

Attention is further directed to the fact that with the embodiment as herein disclosed, all non-metallic material suchas packings have been avoided and that a leakproof device which will assure the highest eiiciency has been provided.

In its specific application the present invention has been shown in conjunction with an oil burner for sake oit illustration. It is obvious however, vthat the device is adapted for general application wherever a liquid spirit or scopeof theiinvention as expressed so that liquidmay flow into said chamber when said valve accidentally remains open, and means controlled by the level of the liquid in said chamber for controlling the flow of liquid through said inlet conduit, said means being located between said valve and the source of su ply.

2. A liquid control unit comprising a casing having a partition providing a reservoir and a chamber, inlet and outlet conduits conl necting the reservoir, a valve between the inlet conduit and reservoir for controlling the 4flow of liquid to said reservoir, a iloat for Operating said valve, a passage through the partition whereby liquid may flow from the reservoir Yto the chamber when the level thereof in the reservoir reaches a given height, and means in said chamber controlled by the level of liquid for closing said inlet conduit.

r 3. In apparatus of the class described, the

combination of, a control unithaving two' chambers, means' in one of said chambers adapted to maintain a predetermined level f of liquid therein, a conduit connecting said chamber with a source of' supply, a normally open valve in said conduit, and a valve control mechanism including a liexible diaphragm adapted to actuate said valve; saidmechanism being disposed in a second chamberl and responsive `to an overflow of the liquid from the first chamber into the second chamber beyond a predetermined point to eiect a closure of the valve. y

4. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a control unit having two chambers, adjustable control means for the iniow of liquid into said unit, includingl a flexible diaphragm in one of saidchambers;

5. In apparatus of the class described, the Y combination of a casing having two chambers, liquid level control mechanism in one of said chambers comprising a ilexlble member and a sisting of a float,

float mechanism including a valve unit confloat valve and valve seat secured to the upper portion of the flexible member and vertically adjustable with the same, a supply line`for the liquid, a normally open valve in said supply line, a valve operating mechanism contained in another chamber and comprising a normally compressed flexible member having connection with said normally open valve, means tending to distend the flexible member and close the valve, a said flexible member and valve in their nor- -mal open position, and a float operative to disengage said latch: said float being responsive to an overflow of the fuel from the first chamber into the second chamber. l

6. A liquid control mechanism comprising a unit having a chamber, a hollow flexible member within the chamber having its lower portion secured thereto, a valve having a seat secured to an upper vertically'7 movable portion of the flexible member, float mechanism also secured to the upper portion of the flexible member and manually7 adjustable to various heights, and means to permit the liquid to pass into said flexible member and by said valve subject to the action of said loat m'echae nism.

7. A liquid cont-rol mechanism comprising a unit having a chamber, a supply line,

a normally op'en valve in said line, a flexible member in said chamber having its lower portion in fixed relation therewith and an upper vertically movable portion connecting with the valve, spring means tending to close the valve, a latch adapted in its engaged position to maintain the valve in an open condition, and a float operable by a rising fluid to disengage the latch.

8. In apparatus of the class described the combination of a unit having a chamber, a liquid conducting line connecting with said chamber, a control mechanism including a float and valve vertically adjustable within the chamber and adapted to maintain a predetermined level of liquid therein, a normally inactive auxiliary control mechanism including a normally open valve in the conducting line and means responsive to an excessive amount of liquid in, said chamber to close said normally open valve. 1

9. In apparatus of the class described, the combination with a unit having a chamber and a mechanism adapted to confine a fluid to a predetermined height therein and a supply line therefor. of a normally inactive safety control mechanism comprising a normally open valve in said supply line, means associated with said unit including a flexible member tending to close said valve. a latch to maintain the valve in its open position, and a float adapted to release said latch; the float being responsive to the fluid only latch adapted t-o maintain both4 when the same exceeds said predetermined amount in said chamber.

' l0. In apparatus of the class described, the combination with a liquid fuel consumer, of a control means between said consumer and a source of supply, comprising a casing divided into a plurality of chambers, means to permit an overflow of liquid from one chamber to another, a supply line connecting said consumer with the first chamber, a liquid control mechanism in said first chamber comprising a hollow flexible member having a vertically adjustable upper portion provided with an'opening and a fixed lower portion also provided with an opening, a float mechanism secured to said upper movable portion of the flexible member, comprising a valve adapted to close said upper opemng, a safety control mechanism contained 1n the second chamber comprising a hollow flexible member having a vertically movable closed upper portion anda fixed lowery portion provided with an opening, a supply line having a connection with the lower opening of the flexible member in said first chamber and a source of supply, a valve having a stem connected to said upper portion of the flexible memberin said second chamber and movable through said opening in thelower portion; said valve adapted to form a closure for the last said supply line. a spring tending to close said valve. a .latch adapted to normally maintain said valve in an open condition`,=and a" float means responsive to the overfiow-off'the liquid fronrthe first into the` secondcliamber to release .the latch so astdperniitithe'valve to close.

11. In apparatus of the class described,

the combination ofa fuel control unit. comprising two chambers, a conduit connecting with one chamber. a control mechanism in said chamber adapted to maintain a predetermined level of liquid therein and including a float. a, valve seat andv a valve vert-ically adjustable as a unit within the chamber and operable at various heights. a normally open valve in said conduit. and a means within the second chamber 'adapted to close said valve; said means being responsive Vto ditions at a predetermined height therein. a a 125 second chamber. a meansadapted to permit a flow of liquid from the first chamber into the second chamber when said liquid rises beyond the predetermined height .in the first chamber, a normally open valve in said conduit, a means 1n the second chamber having A adapted to co-act with said seat, and

lease the latch.

connection with said valve and responsive to the rising of the liquid Within the second chamber so as to close said valve and positively interrupt the flow of liquid into the first chamber.

13. .In an apparatus adapted to maintain' a predetermined level of liquid in a liquid consumer, the combination with a chamber having a liquid supply line, of a flexible member in said chamber, a valve seat secured to said flexible member and adjustable therewith, a valve in said chamber a float actuated by the liquid to control the valve.

14. In apparatus adapted to maintain a predetermined level of liquid in a liquid consumer, the combination with a chamber having a. conduit, a flexible member in said chamber. a valve seat secured to said flexible member and adjustable therewith, a valve to co-act With said seat, a float to control the valve s0 as to close communication between said conduit and said chamber when the liquid rises to a predetermined level, a supply line connecting said conduit with a source of supply, a normally open valve in said conduit, a flexible member connected to the last said valve and adapted to close the same, a latch adapted to maintain the normally open position of the valve, a second chamber, and a float in said chamber responsive to the liquid when it rises beyond said predetermined level in the first chamber and adapted to re- Signed at Keyport, in the county of Monmouth. and State of New Jersey this 17th day of Augustl A. D. 1926.

ARTHUR W. F ERRIN. 

